Hair, You Go
Oh where, oh where did my body hair go?
Oh where, oh hair can it be?
Have you noticed that you don’t need to shave the usual spots as frequently (maybe in exchange for having to shave other spots)?
Like with everything in perimenopause, it seems, it started subtly enough that I kept up my regular shaving routine until, one day, I realized that I didn’t need to shave again yet.
Of course, shaving your body hair or not is a personal decision.
What’s going on?
No one ever mentioned this to me before: that I would lose all of my leg and underarm hair as I aged.
At first, I thought it was great since my leg hair is darker. But then I started to get concerned and wondered if something else could be going on.
I did some digging, and here’s what I found out.
Hair Yesterday, Gone Today
There wasn’t too much info to dig through. There’s very little science and information about body hair, women, and aging, but I did find out a few things.
Hormonal changes, like declining estrogen, can affect hair follicles, which become smaller. Other changes like thinning skin can also affect hair follicles, resulting in less body hair. Many hair follicles just give up and quit producing new hair.
Body hair loss can happen just about anywhere - legs, arms, armpits, eyebrows (usually the outer third), pubic area.
Women aren’t the only ones affected. Men also lose some body hair as they age.
Some medications can cause hair loss.
The hormonal changes that lead to body hair loss can also stimulate the growth of new hair in different areas, such as the upper lip and chin in women and the ears, brows, and nose in men. Additionally, these changes can result in hair loss on our heads, specifically female and male pattern hair loss.
Circulation, blood flow, and oxygenation of our cells can affect arteries, which can lead to hair loss.
Deanna Hansen (one of my favorite online experts), a fascia specialist and founder of Block Therapy, believes that one of the reasons that we stop growing hair, especially on our legs, is because, as we age, the fascia on our legs wraps around, gripping to the bone. This “pull” causes the follicles to stop growing new hair.
If you’re not familiar with fascia, it’s fascianating to learn about. Fascia is a thin layer of body tissue that holds the body’s structure in place. It weaves and winds around every structure, giving our bodies stability. It was recently designated as an organ. Historically, it was not studied and was even removed and thrown out when scientists studied the body, thinking it was not important.
You may have heard of the book The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. There are some who believe that it’s the fascia “that keeps the score” holding onto trauma and memories. If this is true, that would mean that the fascia is an organ that is a part of the musculoskeletal system as well as the nervous system.
Hair ye, hair ye!
Sudden hair loss can be a sign of a medical condition. Please see a healthcare provider if this is your experience.
, a healthcare professional, nurse practitioner, and author of , provided additional information on this topic:“One thing I will add is that doctors view hair growing well on your lower legs, in particular, as a positive sign that you don't have diabetes. It seems hair loss on the lower legs can sometimes be a sign of poor circulation, which can be a complication of diabetes, especially if it leads to peripheral artery disease (PAD). So...if you're mostly loosing hair on your lower legs (versus all the other places you'd rather it not grow), you might want to pay some attention to that.”
I’m Here Hair For You
Get Further Support from Shelby!
✨ Book a personalized session with me to get your perimenopause questions answered so that you can make the best decisions for your health. Learn more and book online using my HIPAA-compliant client portal.
NEW! I’m now offering paid subscriptions to a second newsletter called “The Period Break,” where you’ll receive bonus advice and special support 💖 reserved for my consulting clients. This newsletter that you’re reading now will remain free.
🎤 Have you noticed that your body hair seems to be getting a bit sparse?
Be well, stay cool…
Shelby Tutty, MHA
Certified Perimenopause Educator
Founder of The Periprofessional, LLC
I lost head hair through endocrine malfunction, but it seems to be coming back. I wouldn’t cry if pit and leg hair went, but NOT on my head!
Great post, great humor! ;) Reposting to my peeps tomorrow. One thing I will add is that doctors view hair growing well on your ower legs in particular as a positive sign that you don't have diabetes. It seems hair loss on the lower legs can sometimes be a sign of poor circulation, which can be a complication of diabetes, especially if it leads to peripheral artery disease (PAD). So...if you're mostly loosing hair on your lower legs (versus all the other places you'd rather it not grow), you might want to pay some attention to that.